Culloden is situated five miles to the east of Inverness and can be visited by following the A9 and then branching off to the B9006.

Culloden Moor, scene of the last battle fought on mainland Britain , is one of the most emotive and historic sites in Scotland . The battle that took place here on 16th April 1746 effectively ended Jacobite hopes of restoring the exiled Stuart dynasty to the throne of Britain .

Government forces led by the Duke of Cumberland crushed the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. In less than an hour - the time it takes to walk round the battlefield - it was over.

Government forces led by the Duke of Cumberland crushed the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. In less than an hour - the time it takes to walk round the battlefield - it was over.

Stoer in Sutherland was the first crofters community to buy their own land from the Laird.The brutal measures imposed by the Hanoverian's after the battle signalled the end of the distinctive way of life and culture for the highlanders.

The Trust at Culloden is working to conserve the site so that it can retain the unique way it was in 1746. There are reconstructed dykes that played a crucial part in the battle, and sheep are grazing on the battlefield so they gradually remove the scrub and regenerating trees. The site also includes the restored Leanach Cottage, which originally survived the battle around it. If the walls of this house could speak it would have a sad tale to tell. Here you can relive the atmosphere of the day and see a Living History Presentation - A Day Like No Other - which runs throughout the summer.

The Visitor Centre has a fascinating Jacobite exhibition from the period. Recently acquired is a complement of replica Jacobite weaponry - targe, dirk and broadsword. Master craftsmen who donated them to Culloden Visitor Centre manufactured these weapons in the traditional way.

Walk the battlefield where the memorials and clan graves lie and reflect on the human cost of 'one man's dream'.

ISLE OF LEWIS - WESTERN ISLES

The Outer Hebrides is a place all Scots should visit in their lifetime, the beautiful turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of Lewis outshine many others worldwide. We took this trip in May 2004 and had tremendous weather whilst the mainland had torrential rain, but we do understand if the weather is bad then Lewis could be a really desolate place. In fact what brought this destination to the forefront was a BBC TV programme showing you the ten best places in the world to visit, and Lewis was in amongst the Rocky Mountains and the Taj Mahal.

Lewis is steeped in history and culture, ranging back thousands of years. Ancient stone circles stand on the same land as modern Stornaway. Gaelic is spoken alongside English, and Eagles live alongside Otters and people. The contrast of the ages and cultures is experienced all over the isles of Lewis and Harris (both joined) both in the towns and out in the hills and mountains. In the summer months local people can still be seen cutting the peat and in the winter, the distinctive dry smell of the peat fires drifts in the wind.

Callanish Standing Stones is one of the most significant and important megalithic complexes in Europe. The most impressive set of stones is called Callanish 1 and the circle can be seen clearly from the main road (A858). It consists of rows of large pieces of Lewisian gneiss arranged in a cross shape. At the centre of the cross is a monolith and a small chambered cairn. Two other significant stone circles are in the same area (Callanish 2 and 3).There is a visitor's centre here.

Stornoway is the main town on the Isle of Lewis and is also the home of the Western Isles Council. Just over 6,000 people live in the town, which represents about a third of the Islands total population. When you arrive in Stornaway you get a pleasant surprise at just how big Stornaway is, we imagined it to be as small as Ullapool but were really mistaken. The economy is a mix of traditional businesses like fishing, Harris Tweed and farming, with more recent influences like Tourism, the oil industry and commerce brought about by the digital revolution and communications.

On the exposed Atlantic coast of the Isle of Lewis the blackhouse village of Gearrannan lies steeped in history and sited in an environment of outstanding natural beauty.

The name of MacLeod (son of Leod) is seen regularly in the phone books and on the name boards of shops, and the ending of "bost" on the place names, giving witness to the Viking past of the Isles. The Western Isles culture remains very strong, particularly in its religious beliefs. Sundays remain a very special day, and many people observe strict compliance to the "Free Church" traditional values.

The contrasts of Harris are spectacular, with beautiful scenery and an unspoilt landscape. The west has vast expanses of white sand and turquoise water whilst the north and the east are rugged rocky places. In the Bays area, the lunar landscape is indented with hundreds of little lochs and on a clear day you can see over to the Isle of Skye. There are very few trees on Harris so if you see them make the most of them.

The Western Isles (formerly known as the Hebrides ) give you the chance to get away from modern life and all it's pressures. Between the hospitality of the people, the history and a fantastic landscape you feel you are in another world.

Saying this though we were very distressed to hear from the locals, that the younger generation are leaving in their droves for the mainland. This is due mainly to the work situation as there is very little on Harris. Also they are finding that people are buying houses to use only in the summer, and consequently this does not contribute to the rest of the islands community. It would be a shame to see these islands go into decay owing to the youth leaving.

One of the most picturesque views we have ever seen was on Harris when we encountered the Beaches, it is an inlet that runs miles and is stunningly colourful.

You can often see what look like patterns on the hillsides of Harris. These are the so-called Lazy Beds (and yet life was hard!) where the crofters used to grow potatoes and a few vegetables. They managed to cut strips of land between the rocks and fertilise what little soil there was with enough seaweed to provide them with a bit of something to put with the fish they caught. Today you will still see them cutting peat for fuel.

The famous Harris tweed is made all over both Harris and Lewis. It can be bought in many of the islands' shops and also direct from the weavers (at Luskentyre for example or Plocrapool). Genuine Harris tweed bears the orb symbol, the mark of the Harris Tweed Association. The wool is Scottish in origin (often from the islands, although not always), but for it to be classed as Harris Tweed, it must be spun, dyed, finished and woven in the Hebrides.

The Island of Skye, situated off the West coast of Mainland Scotland, is the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides.

Sometimes referred to in Gaelic poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle), Skye is renown for its natural beauty, history and wildlife.

The Cuillin Hills, the Red Hills and Blaven have long been favourites with climbers and walkers.

If you don't fancy the high places, the deeply indented coastline means you are never far from the sea.

Wildlife abounds on the Island, with birds from the tiny Goldcrest to magnificent Golden Eagle, mammals from Pygmy Shrew to Red Deer and fish from Saithe to Salmon. If you are lucky you might catch sight of the elusive Otter playing on the shore. The wide range of geology and topography provides habitats for many wild flowers.

As you travel around the Island it's not unusual to hear snatches of Scottish Gaelic, the indigenous language of the area. Gaelic culture and heritage pervade the atmosphere, each part of the Island having its own tales of times past and plans for the future.

The Isle of Skye is so impressive, beautiful mountainous scenery and the wonderful turquiose coloured waters make this a photographers dream.

There are so many wee bits of history dotted all over the island it is advisable to do some research before you visit, so you don't miss anything. Dunvegan Castle is a must and the scenery of the Cuillins from Elgol is an unbelievable view.

Your stay on the Isle of Skye will stay with you for the rest of your life, it is so beautiful and the locals are so friendly.

Once you have arrived at the Kyles of Lochalsh take a right turning and head towards Plockton. This is a beautiful wee village on the edge of Loch Carron. Plockton is a picturesque village full of flowers and palm trees. It was where they shot the series Hamish MacBeth. The peace and tranquillity that you endure whilst here is something else. The road is in front of the houses and the gardens across the road, although this comes from the crofting years ago.

Plockton is surrounded and sheltered by hills in the bay of Loch Carron.

This is a delightful place and is still unspoilt by tourism. Although there are a few shops and great restaurants here.

If you get the chance just sit and watch the world go by, and gaze across the loch to Duncraig Castle, which is now undergoing a large restoration.

Loch Carron is a majestic Loch and when we drove down the side of it we found the place breathtaking. We took many images and here you have just one of them.

Once you leave Plockton you see it no more as it is well and truly in a bowl, what a fantastic place that was.

Stoer in Sutherland was the first crofters community to buy their own land from the Laird. With help from round the world and various schemes they reached the asking price of £300,000.

Walk along cliff tops, with stunning views of the coastline and the Old Man of Stoer. This is the nesting place of many seabirds, and there are several points where you get excellent views of the birds nesting or diving for fish in the sea below, but do take care on the clifftops as it can be very slippery.

This trip is a must if you come to Scotland as it really is sensational, and you feel at times as if you are on the moon with the landscape.

The small grouping of houses which comprises the village of Stoer , , is situated on the edge of a wide open bay with a lovely sandy beach.
Until recently, the village had a Post Office and Store and a local joiner's workshop. Both of these have now gone, leaving little apart from the Fank, where sheep are gathered from the surrounding hills for clipping and dipping, the graveyard which is still in use and the ruins of the church.

The church was built in 1828 to a standard T-shaped plan, but was too small for the huge population which the area then had, so services were held out-of-doors in fine weather.

Just to the south of Stoer Bay , right on the coast are the remains of a broch. Known as Clachtoll Broch, this Iron Age fort stood about 30 feet high. Externally some 50 feet in diameter but internally only 26 feet, the building had a double wall with a stairway going up between the two walls; the remains of this can still be seen, as can the doorway which, for protection was only about 1 metre high and the same wide. Typical of the west and north coasts of Scotland this is a relatively well preserved example.

Ullapool is nestled on the shores of Lochbroom about 1 hour North of Loch Ness and Inverness airport. It is the perfect base to discover Ross-shire, Cromarty, Sutherland, The Black Isle and Inverness (where the nearest Air, Rail and Bus Links are). The Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board boasts some of the highest rates of repeat business in the country.

Apart from the more famous attractions of Wester Ross such as Inverewe gardens, and the Victorian Spa town of Strathpeffer, locally there is a leisure centre, full size swimming pool, a golf course and, museum in an old church.

In the evenings there is a surprisingly diverse selection of live entertainment throughout the year. We are blessed with majestic mountains which surround us on all four sides, some of the most beautiful unspoilt scenery in the world, undiscovered beaches, forests, hidden glens with stags grazing, waterfalls, bird sanctuaries to explore, breathtaking twisty single track roads, all caressed by the gulf stream which gives us tropical gardens and comparably mild weather.

You could take a boat trip to the enchanting Summer Isles and see seals and porpoises or marvel at the botanist's miracle of Hydroponics in Achiltibuie.

If you wish to venture further afield you could visit Loch Ness, the award winning Cromarty Court House (in session all day), try to play the bagpipes or Gaelic harp at Balnain House, sample the local malt whiskies (or even some Highland silver birch wine) at one of the distilleries, shiver on the eerie battle ground of Culloden or go Dolphin spotting in the Moray Firth. Ullapool & Lochbroom, Wester Ross, Highlands, Scotland why not see it for yourself